Threshold



OCL 11, 1938. w Q HOFFMAN 2,132,471

THRESHOLD Filed Feb. 7, 1936 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STAT2,132,411 'rnnEsnoLp Walter C. Hoffman,

Ferndale, Mich., assignor to Application February 7, 1936, Serial No.62,731

4 Claims.

This invention relates to threshold constructions for automotivevehicles. More particularly, it relates to a novel form of thresholdconstruction which provides a resilient covering not only 5 extending-over the entire surface of the running board, but `extending inwardlyof the door opening to the interior of the body.

It is a general objectof the present invention to provide a thresholdconstruction which is relatively simple, economical of manufacture, easyof installation and which, at the same time, effects an exceedinglytight and eflicient seal with respect to the doors with which it isassociated.

Yet another objectA of the present invention 15 consists in theprovision of a threshold construction in which the covering for therunning board extends inwardly suiciently far to mate With the iioorccvering of the interior of the body.

. Still further the present invention contem- 20 plates the provision ofa vehicle body construction in which the running board is preformed toprovide a vertically disposed .wall against which the doors of thevehicle mate rather than'providing a jamb face at the lower edge of thedoor opening.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of a novelrunning board construction in which the running board is formed of anintegral metal stamping which extends upwardly and over the .side sillof the vehicle body and is secured interiorly of the body insubstantially the plane of .the floor thereof.

Yetl another object of the present invention 's' consists in theprovision of a novel threshold construction aiording a neat exteriorappearance in vehicle bodies in which no running board is used.

Many other and further objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following specification when considered,in connection 4with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates an automobile body of the type particularly adaptablefor construction in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is 'an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section, illustratingthe manner in which the improved running board construction mates withone of the side sills of the vehicle and the manner in which one of thevehicle doors mates with the running board.

Fig. 3 is a reverse fragmentary perspective view of the improved runningboard and sill construction adjacent the central pillar showing the man-Es PATENT oFFica ner in which the resilient covering material matesinteriorly of the body adjacent the central pillar structure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View partly in section, illustrating1n which the central pillar of the chassis and the man detail the mannerin is secured to the sill ner in which the resilbody in which no runningboard is used.

In the specific form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, thestructure shown comprises a sill formed of a member of outwardlypresenting channel section IIJ which is reinforced by a substantiallywhich may be .secured to ,vertically disposed face plate II the channelmember I by welding or other suitable means, such as are conventional inthe serves to support one side tending floor I2 which, as art, may beformed of art. The sill member I0 of a horizontally exis conventional inthe metal or other suitable similar material, and which serves toconstitute a floor for the interior of The improved running the vehicle.

board construction comprises a sheet metal member I5 which is preferablybeaded or rolled over in its outer marginal edge at I6 to provide astrength. This member horizontally inward structure of increased I5preferably extends toward the vehicle to provide a suitable at runningboard surface and is inner marginal edge of then bent upwardly and theninwardly over the mating flanges of the members I0 the member and II.The I5 is then bent downwardly and horizontally 'in substantially theplane of the floor I2 to provide a securing ange I1I which may befastened to the upper surface ofthe sill member suitable bolts I8.

I0 by means of In vehicles which have two doors on a side, it

is essential that a pillar these two door `openings erably supported atits member I0.

In order to provide a st ing for the lower end of be disposed betweenand this pillar i/sfpreflower end upon the sill rong, effective mountthepillar structure, a

substantially channel-shaped boss or bracket 20 is flanged at 2| throughthese flanges the sill structure.

in its marginal edges and secured 2l to the face plate II of Thisbracket 20 provides a boss over which the lower end of a channel shapedpillar 22 ts and t of the pillar may be `or other suitable means.

o which the lower end directly secured by welding The running board I5is provided with suitable is provided with a suitable slot or aperturewhich closely iits the pillar 22 and permits the mounting of the runningboard in place after the pillar has been secured in position. It will beapparent from the above described construction that the bracket 20terminates at its upper end substantially ush with the upper edge of theface plate Il and consequently the pillar structure extends through thevertically disposed portion of the running board structure rather thanthrough the horizontally disposed portion thereof.

As is conventional in the art, the vehicle body doors 25 which serve toclose the door openings and these doors are preferably provided at theirlower marginal edges with a resilient sealing element 26 which serves tomate with the vertically extending surface of i the running boardstructure in order to provide an effective and tight closure of the doorand dooropening at this point.

In order to protect the running board and threshold structure fromabrasive wear and provide a neat and attractive appearance, I flnd itpreferable to cover the entire running board member with aresilientcovering of rubber or similar suitable material 30 which may bevulcanized thereon, or otherwise suitably secured thereto. the entireupper surface of the running board structure'except the inwardlyextending iiange I1, and it will therefore be seen that the resilientcovering mates neatly with the lateral edge of a carpet 3| such as isconventionally used on the oor of the vehicle body. Adjacent the pillarstructure interiorly of the vehicle, the resilient covering material isextended out substantially beyond the running board structure to providemating aps 32 and 33 which serve to cover the space overv the bracket 20internally of the pillar 22.

It will therefore be clear that the rubber covering material may beapplied to the running board structure prior to the installation of therunning board on the car andthe Jilaps 32 and 33 may This resilientcovering preferably covers be bent back to allow the insertion of therunning board into engagement with the sill structure and permit thepassage of the pillar between the two aps. After the running board isinstalled, the flaps may be folded down into mating engagement toprovide a neat structure interiorly of the vehicle body.

What is claimed is:

1., In a vehicle body construction having a door opening therein, a sillbeneath said opening, a running board secured to the top of said silland preformed to provide a threshold for said door opening, and aresilient covering for said running board also extending through saiddoor opening and covering said threshold.

2. In a vehicle body construction having a pair of door openings in theside thereof, a sill beneath said door openings, a pillar extendingupwardly from said sill between said door openings, a running boardhaving projecting portions extending through said doorway openings andsecured to said sill, said projections being preformed to providethresholds for said doorway openings and being covered with resilientmaterial.

3.. A vehicle body having a door opening therein, a door for saidopening, a sill at the lower side of said opening and a running boardextending inwardly over the upper side of said sill and secured thereto,the lower marginal edge of said door being adapted to engage saidrunning board when the door is in closed position. v

4. In a vehicle body having a door opening therein, a door for saidopening, a sill at the lower side of said opening, a running boardhaving its inner marginal portion extending over said sill and securedto the upper side thereof, said running 4board being oiset downwardlyadjacent said sill and projecting horizontally outwardly from saiddownward oilset, the lower marginal edge of said door being adapted toengage the offset portion of said running board when the door is inclosed position,

WALTER C. HOFFMAN.

